Colorado HS Recites Pledge in Arabic, ‘One Nation Under Allah’

The principal at Rocky Mountain High School in Fort Collins, Colorado has apparently forgotten that he’s not leading an Islamic madrassa. On Monday, a student member of the school’s Cultural Arms Club was permitted to lead the student body in the Arabic version of the Pledge of Allegiance, which included reciting the phrase “one nation under Allah.”

The principal, Tom Lopez, is defending his decision in the face of a strong backlash from outraged parents and members of the community who have bombarded the school with phone calls and emails. He has also denied that he was attempting to promote the Muslim religion.

“These students love this country,” Lopez asserted. “They were not being un-American in trying to do this. They believed they were accentuating the meaning of the words as spoken regularly in English.”

Yet, the communications director for the Poudre School District, Danielle Clark, has acknowledged, “We understand not everybody would agree with the students’ choice. We’ve heard there are some who are upset.”

Clark also said the cultural club has recited the Pledge of Allegiance in a number of different languages, not just Arabic — more multiculturalism run amok. However, none of these prior occasions included the Islamic-specific name of “Allah” in the pledge. And what would have happened if one of the school’s Christian groups had requested to lead their fellow students in reciting the words “one nation under Jesus?” Something tells me that the school officials wouldn’t have permitted, let alone defended, such a thing.

“Obviously in Arabic, you would use the word Allah, but Christian Arabs would use the word Allah,” said Ibrahim Hooper, of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR). “It’s not necessarily specific to Islam and Muslims.”

Although Mr. Hooper’s comments are basically correct, we do not live in a country of Arabic converts to Christianity. In America, the word “Allah” comes with all of the negative baggage associated with the Muslim faith and the false god of the Qur’an. Moreover, as an unindicted 9/11 co-conspirator, CAIR’s words should always be viewed with considerable suspicion, especially since they hold to the ridiculous notion that Sharia Law is compatible with Western style democracy. Furthermore, CAIR’s disturbing links to the terrorist group Hamas are another reason to doubt the sincerity of their statements, and they undoubtedly have an agenda to spread Islam throughout our society.

“How on earth is it un-American to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in another language,” Hooper asked. “It doesn’t make sense unless the people complaining are anti-Muslim or anti-middle eastern bigots.”

Likewise, Principal Lopez has resorted to attacking the motivations and concerns of those individuals who have voiced their disapproval over the incident.

“I’ve been shocked with prejudicial statements that have been made,” Lopez protested. “I’ve been shocked with the lack of seeking understanding. There’s definitely suspicion and fear expressed in these people’s minds. There’s some hate.”

Many local residents were merely expressing their belief that the pledge should only be recited in English, and that they don’t want their children being desensitized to Islam’s stealthy advance in America. One resident, Chris Wells put it this way, “There are things that we don’t mess with – among them are the pledge and our anthem.” Even Lopez should understand that.

Nevertheless, CAIR and the school officials have obviously decided to allow things to degenerate into the dismissive name-calling games made popular by the Left.

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Barb Wire.

Jeff Allen is both a senior editor and columnist for BarbWire. He also serves as senior pastor in a mainline Christian church in Indiana. He is an ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene. Jeff is involved in several community ministries.

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